24. Treatin' KC

It was Halloween morning. EuEarl lay awake in their bed next to a sleeping KC. KC'd been really quiet, more so than usual, since the State Fair last week. Though EuEarl had asked him a coupl'a times if anything was wrong, KC'd only mumbled 'Nuthin' " in response. A response, that, in the short time they'd been together, EuEarl had learned to pretty much anticipate . And though it hadn't yet reached the point of annoyance,it was, all the same, worrying. So, this early morning, the former truck driver was focusing on just how to set his cowboy cruisin' back on Carefree Highway !
He remembered once tellin' KC about his first Halloween when he was a child.
" There was always this huge gatherin' at the V.F.W. every year ! When I was 7,Granny allowed me to go trick-or-treating for the first time ! She sewed me a Superman costume. It looked like the real thing, too ! At 6PM we kids gathered down at the square, then scattered out 'cross the parrish knockin' on doors, screaming for treats & causin' mischief ! An' it wasn't no time before our bags was stuffed full with all kinds of candy & treats ! But there was even more once we got to the Veteran's Hall ! Candy, kernel korn, cupcakes, crackerjacks, caramel apples & stuff ! Plus toys, games & prizes ! Everything a little kid could ask for. Sort'a felt more like Christmastime than Halloween , actually!" And EuEarl had added
" Kind'a miss all that now, even if I am a grown-up . You ?"
" Ain't never did none'a that. ", KC had said. " Muh daddy thought Hollerween wuz foolish. An' dressin' up silly wuz sissy. Daddy didn't see no sense in it."
" You didn't go trick-or-treatin' , then ?"
" Nope. Nearest ranch to ourn's wuz three miles away. Weren't no big deal t'me." KC had cleared his throat , then & walked off .




But EuEarl had felt it was a big deal. Then & Now.
He turned to KC , placed his hand on the snoozin' man's shoulder & shook him gently.
" Babe. If you could be anybody in the world right now, who would you be ?"
KC snorted " Hmmmph...wha...?"
" For Halloween. Who would you be ?"
KC rolled over & looked at him. " Fer Hollerween ?"
" Yeah. "
" Rip Van Winkle ."
"I'm serious."
"Yer crazy..." KC muttered & tried to pull the covers over his head, but EuEarl stopped him.
" It's no good, cowboy. You & me are havin' our own private Halloween Party tonight ! Now, who ya gonna be ?"
KC propped himself up on his elbows. Now he could see EuEarl wasn't foolin', he thought about it for a moment. " Ah kin be anybody I want ?"
EuEarl nodded his head. " In fact, you can choose my costume, too. "
KC smiled. "Then ah got's two words fer ya..."
EuEarl braced himself. " Let's hear 'em ."
" Archie Andrews !"